2001 - 2002
Undergraduate Catalog

African and Asian Languages and Literatures

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF 2000-2001

Balaban, A., Chair; Chu, C.C., Associate Chair; Bamia, A.; Chennault, C.L.; Der-Houssikian, H.; Fresh, E.; Hulvey, S.Y.; Hyden, M.; Kotey, P.F.A.; Kubota, S.A.; Murphy, J.A.; Wehmeyer, A.K.; Yariv, Y.; Zhou, Z.

Undergraduate Coordinator in Chinese: C.L. Chennault

Undergraduate Coordinator in Japanese: J.A. Murphy

Undergraduate Coordinator in African languages: P.F.A. Kotey

Undergraduate Coordinator in Arabic: A. Bamia

Undergraduate Coordinator Hebrew: A. Balaban

ASN 4905 Individual Work.
Credits: 1 to 5; Prereq: Permission of the department. GR-E†

ASN 4930 Special Topics in Asian Studies.
Credits: 3.

FOL 3932 Calligraphy. F, S.
Credits: 3; Coreq: First-year level of the pertinent language (Chinese, Japanese, Arabic).
An introductory study of the origin, composition, development, variations, and aesthetic styles of orthographic characters with laboratory sessions for appreciation and practice of calligraphic skills. (H, I)

HUM 2410 Asian Humanities. F, S.
Credits: 3.
A General Education course similar in philosophy and purpose to the basic sequence. Content selected from the philosophies, literature, arts and music of India, China and Japan. (H, I)

HUM 2420 African Humanities. F, S.
Credits: 3.
A General Education course similar in philosophy and purpose to the basic sequence. Content selected from the philosophies, literature, arts and music of various African countries and regions. (H, I) GR-E†

HUM 2424 African Cultures and Literatures. F, S.
Credits: 3.
A culturally based study of folktales, proverbs, drama, poetry and novels–and how these forms are used to portray African arts and ideas. (H, I)

HUM 2490 Non-West Humanities.
Credits: 3.

SSA 3730 Language in African Society. F, S.
Credits: 3.
The role of language in the development of African societies. Language and nation building. (S, I)

SSA 4750 The Structure of an African Language. F, S.
Credits: 3; May be repeated with a change in the language presented.
The structure of Akan, Ga, Swahili or Yoruba.

SSA 4905 Individual Work.
Credits: 1 to 5; Prereq: Permission of the department.

SSA 4930 Special Topics in African Studies.
Credits: 3. May be repeated to a maximum of 6 credits.

SST 4110 African Folktales. F, S.
Credits: 3.
A comparative study of Sub-Saharan African folktales. Their typology, classification, structure, content, symbolism and aesthetics. The impact of modern cultural settings and the media on the African folktale.

AKA 1120 Beginning Akan 1. F.
Credits: 5.

AKA 1121 Beginning Akan 2. S.
Credits: 5; Prereq: AKA 1120 (grade of C or better or S) or the equivalent.

ABT 3130 Arabic Literary Heritage 1. F.
Credits: 3; May be repeated with a change of content for a maximum of 6 credits.
A survey of classical Arabic literature in translation. The course covers pre-Islamic poetry, and early Islamic poetry, Omayyad, Abbasid and Andalusian literatures. All readings in English. (H, I) GR-E†

ABT 3131 Arabic Literary Heritage 2. S.
Credits: 3.
A survey of modern Arabic literature in translation. The course covers the Arab literary renaissance, influence of western culture, new literary genres, Maghribi literature in the 20th century. All readings in English. (H, I) GR-E†

ABT 3500 Arabic Culture. F, SS.
Credits: 3.
Introduction to Arabic culture with special reference to art, literature, religion and society. Emphasis on Arab contributions to philosophy, medicine, mathematics and architecture. All readings in English. (H, I) GR-E†

ABT 4550 Arabic Folklore. S.
Credits: 3.
A comparative survey of Arabic folklore through the Middle East and North Africa. (H, I)

ARA 1120 Beginning Arabic 1. F.
Credits: 5.

ARA 1121 Beginning Arabic 2. S.
Credits: 5; Prereq: ARA 1120 (grade of C or better, or S), or the equivalent.

ARA 2200 Second-Year Arabic 1. F.
Credits: 3; Prereq: ARA 1121 (grade of C or better, or S), or the equivalent.

ARA 2201 Second-Year Arabic 2. S.
Credits: 3; Prereq: ARA 2201 (grade of C or better, or S), or the equivalent.

ARA 2240 Arabic Conversation S.
Credits: 2.
Standard Arabic Conversation.

ARA 3300 Third-Year Arabic 1. F.
Credits: 3; Prereq: ARA 2202 (grade C or better, or S), or the equivalent.

ARA 3301 Third-Year Arabic 2. S.
Credits: 3; Prereq: ARA 3300 (grade of C or better, or S), or the equivalent.

ARA 3510 The Arab Woman. F, S.
Credits: 3.
This course examines the role and status of Arab women in their respective societies. The course will examine the internal dynamic of Arab culture which influences the role of Arab woman. (H, I, S) GR-E†

ARA 3840 History of the Arabic Language and Linguistics. S.
Credits: 3; Prereq: ARA 1121 or the equivalent.
This course traces the evolution of Arabic Linguistic theory by looking at the influence of Greek philosophy and Islam. The evolution of Arabic as a language will be studied from its Semitic origin and the evolution of the vernaculars. (H, I)

ARA 4400 Fourth Year Arabic I. F.
Credits: 3; Prereq: ARA 3301 or the equivalent.
This course is designed to bring the student to an advanced level in the speaking, hearing, reading and writing of spoken and mass communication, and literary Arabic. (H, I)

ARA 4401 Fourth year Arabic II. S.
Credits: 3; Prereq: ARA 4400 or equivalent.
This is an advanced continuation of ARA 4400. (H, I)

ARA 4420 Arabic Through the Texts. S.
Credits: 3; Prereq: Permission of the instructor.
This course is intended for advanced students of Arabic. Its purpose is to teach the more complex grammar, idiomatic expressions and sophisticated stylistic forms of the language. Required for the Arabic minor.

ARA 4820 The Structure of an Arabic Dialect.
Credits: 3; Prereq: ARA 4850 or consent of instructor. This course may be repeated once with a different dialect as the target.
This course will focus on a contrastive analysis of the dialect selected and standard Arabic in the areas of morphology and syntax.

ARA 4850 The Structure of Standard Arabic. F.
Credits: 3; Prereq: ARA 1121 or the equivalent or LIN 3010.
Insight into the major properties of the Arabic language in the areas of syntax, morphology and sociolinguistics.

ARA 4905 Individual Study.
Credits: 1 to 5; Prereq: consent of instructor.

ARA 4930 Special Topics.
Credits: 3; Prereq: (1) One year of Hebrew or equivalent, (2) One year of Arabic or equivalent, (3) LIN 3010 or equivalent, or (4) permission of instructors.
This course is designed to be one of the core courses in the newly created major, Near Eastern Languages and Cultures, offered through Interdisciplinary Studies. The nature of this course, however, makes it useful for other audiences, for example, students in Linguistics, Religion, Hebrew, Arabic, and Jewish Studies.

CHI 1120 Beginning Chinese 1. F.
Credits: 5.
Course materials are designed for learners with no prior exposure to the language. Students with native background or education for four years or more in a Chinese speaking country must enroll in CHI 4340 or in another Chinese language course at the 3000 or 4000 level.

CHI 1121 Beginning Chinese 2. S.
Credits: 5; Prereq: CHI 1120 (grade of C or better, or S), or the equivalent.

CHI 2200 Second-Year Chinese 1. F.
Credits: 5; Prereq: CHI 1121 (grade of C or better, or S), or the equivalent.

CHI 2201 Second-Year Chinese 2. S.
Credits: 5; Prereq: CHI 2201 (grade of C or better, or S), or the equivalent.

CHI 3410 Third-Year Chinese 1. F.
Credits: 3; Prereq: CHI 2202 (grade of C or better, or S), or the equivalent.

CHI 3411 Third-Year Chinese 2. S.
Credits: 3; Prereq: CHI 3410 (grade of C or better, or S), or the equivalent.

CHI 3500 Chinese Culture. F.
Credits: 3.
An introduction to Chinese culture with emphasis on its philosophy, language, society, art and people as a whole. All readings in English. (H, I) GR-E†

CHI 4340 Reading and Writing in Chinese for Native or Near Native Speakers. 1. F.
Credits: 3; Prereq: Speaking proficiency in one Chinese dialect.
Intended for students who speak a Chinese dialect and who desire to acquire reading proficiency. Emphasis is on recognition of written characters and reading at an accelerated pace.

CHI 4341 Speaking and Writing in Chinese for Native or Near Native Speakers 2. S.
Credits: 3; Prereq: CHI 4340 or permission of instructor.

CHI 4850 Structure of Chinese. S.
Credits: 3; Prereq: CHI 1121, or LIN 3010, or consent of instructor.
An introduction to phonological, grammatical and discourse structures of Mandarin Chinese, with an emphasis on its contrastive aspects with English. (S, I)

CHI 4905 Individual Study.
Credits: 1 to 5.
This includes all the courses offered by the Chinese section. It may be repeated with change of content for a maximum of 10 credit hours.

CHI 4930 Special Topics in Chinese Studies.
Credits: 3.
Proseminar of variable content providing an opportunity for in-depth study of special topics in Chinese Studies. May be repeated to a maximum of 6 credits.

CHI 4956 Overseas Studies.
Credits: 1 to 18; Prereq: consent of instructor.

CHT 3110 Chinese Literary Heritage. S.
Credits: 3.
An introduction to pre-modern Chinese literature in translation. Topics to be chosen from classical poetry, short stories, novels and drama. Emphasis is on the interplay between orthodox values and the folk tradition. All readings in English. (H, I) GR-E†

CHT 3123 Pre-Modern Chinese Fiction in Translation. S.
Credits: 3.
This course explores pre-modern Chinese narrative from its philosophical and historical origins to the fiction at the turn of the 20^th century. Emphasis will be laid on 16^th and 17^th centuries when Chinese vernacular fiction flourished. (H, I)

CHT 3124 Modern Chinese Fiction in Translation. F.
Credits: 3.
A survey of modern Chinese fiction in translation. Samples are from the early 20th Century through the contemporary era, and include writers of the early Republic, the P.R.C. and Taiwan. Focus is on fiction as a vehicle for social change. All readings in English. (H, I) GR-E†

CHT 4111 The Chinese Novel, Dream of the Red Chamber. S.
Credits: 3; Prereq: CHI 3500 or CHT 3110, or consent of instructor.
Explores the intellectual and social life of traditional China through the 18th century epic novel, Story of the Stone, which is acknowledged the greatest masterpiece of Chinese fiction. Interpretive theories of the novel, both Chinese and Western, will also be studied. Readings are in English. (H, S, I) GR-E†

CHW 4130 Readings in Chinese Literature. S.
Credits: 3; Prereq: CHI 3410 or the equivalent. May be repeated with change of content for a maximum of 6 credits.
The course introduces advanced language students to a sampling of Chinese writers. Materials chosen from classic or modern/contemporary Chinese literature rotated across semesters. All readings in Chinese (H, I)

CHW 4140 Newspaper Chinese. S.
Credits: 3; Prereq: CHI3410, or consent of instructor.
The aim is to acquire the ability to understand and translate the documentary prose style used in Chinese newspapers and academic journals. Introduces literary function words and grammar structures, with comparison to the vernacular. Most readings in the simplified character form used in the PRC; all readings in Chinese. Applications for research on modern China.

A placement test will be given during the first class meeting.

HBR 1120 Beginning Modern Hebrew 1. F.
Credits: 5.

HBR 1121 Beginning Modern Hebrew 2. S.
Credits: 5; Prereq: HBR 1120 (grade of C or better, or S) or the equivalent.

HBR 2200 Second-Year Modern Hebrew 1. F.
Credits: 4; Prereq: HBR 1121 (grade of C or better, or S) or the equivalent.

HBR 2201 Second-Year Modern Hebrew 2. S.
Credits: 3; Prereq: HBR 2200 (grade of C or better, or S) or the equivalent.

HBR 3104 Biblical Hebrew.
Credits: 3.
This course introduces the structure of the original Hebrew text of the Bible, the Hebrew alphabet and basic grammar of Biblical Hebrew.

HBR 3410 Third-Year Modern Hebrew 1. F.
Credits: 3; Prereq: HBR 2201 (grade of C or better, or S), or the equivalent. (H, I)

HBR 3411 Third-Year Modern Hebrew 2. S.
Credits: 3; Prereq: HBR 3410 (grade of C or better, or S), or the equivalent. (H, I)

HBR 3530 The Hebrew Language in Jewish Life. S.
Credits: 3.
Description of Hebrew as a cohesive factor in Jewish communities around the world, from ancient times until the present.

HBR 4905 Individual Work. F, S.
Credits: 1 to 5; Prereq: Permission of the department.

HBR 4930 Special Topics.
Credits: 3.

HBT 3110 Israeli Literature in Translation. S.
Credits: 3.
Readings in Israeli fiction from the 1940s to the 1970s. Topics include stories of childhood, war, the kibbutz, images of the Arab, women, the Holocaust, nostalgia and social change. (H) (I) GR-E†

HMW 3200 Introduction to Modern Hebrew Literature 1. F.
Credits: 3; Prereq: Three years of college Hebrew or the equivalent.
Readings in modern Hebrew texts, both short fiction and poetry, geared to the third-year student. A study of the literature is emphasized though some language work is done to aid reading comprehension. Texts are in Hebrew; language of instruction is Hebrew.

HMW 3201 Introduction to Modern Hebrew Literature 2.
Credits: 3; Prereq: Three years of college Hebrew or the equivalent.
This course is a continuation of HBT 3200. A variety of Hebrew texts, both fiction and poetry, are presented. The selections are more contemporary and include recently published stories and poems taken from current Israeli literary periodicals. Language of instruction is Hebrew.

HMW 3213 The Israeli Cinema.
Credits: 3.
History and criticism of the Israeli film from the early 1950’s to the present. The course will survey through readings, lectures, discussions and film screenings the emergence of the Israeli cinema as an independent art form. All films will have English subtitles. (I)(H)

HMW 4202 Reading in Modern Hebrew Literature 1. F, I.
Credits: 3; Prereq: HBR3411 or consent of instructor.
The course will cover the following major topics: modern Hebrew fiction, the Palmach generation (generation of 1948), from the Palmach generation to the generation of the state, and fiction of the 70’s and 80’s. GR-E†

HMW 4203 Reading in Modern Hebrew Literature 2. S, I.
Credits: 3; Prereq: HMW 4202.
The course will cover the following major topics: Modern Hebrew poetry, the Alterman and Shlonsky generation, poetry of the 50’s and 60’s, and poetry of the 70’s and 80’s.

JPN 1120 Beginning Japanese 1. F.
Credits: 5.

JPN 1121 Beginning Japanese 2. S.
Credits: 5; Prereq: JPN 1120 (grade of C or better, or S), or the equivalent.

JPN 2200 Second-Year Japanese 1. F.
Credits: 5; Prereq: JPN 1121 (grade of C or better, or S), or the equivalent.

JPN 2201 Second-Year Japanese 2. S.
Credits: 5; Prereq: JPN 2201 (grade of C or better, or S), or the equivalent.

JPN 3391 Introduction to Japanese Film.
Credits: 4.
Designed to introduce students to the formal and historical features of Japanese film that have given it a unique position in film history. Emphasis is on formal and critical analysis, as well as the intellectual stakes in studying non-Western film.

JPN 3400 Third-Year Japanese 1. F.
Credits: 3; Prereq: JPN 2201 (grade of C or better, or S), or the equivalent. (H, I)

JPN 3401 Third-Year Japanese 2. S.
Credits: 3; Prereq: JPN 3400 (grade of C or better, or S), or the equivalent. (H, I)

JPN 3504 Japanese Language and Culture.
Credits: 3.

JPN 3730 Language in Japanese Society.
Credits: 3.
Analysis of variation in the regional dialects, gender-based differences, pragmatics of inter-personal communication, language acquisition and discourse structure. (S, I)

JPN 4850 Structure of Japanese. S.
Credits: 3; Prereq: JPN 1121, or LIN 3010, or consent of instructor.
Linguistic analysis of modern standard Japanese. Topics covered include phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics and writing. Readings and discussions in English. (S, I)

JPN 4905 Individual Study.
Credits: 1 to 5.
Available only by special arrangement. May be replaced with change of content for a maximum of 10 credit hours.

JPN 4930 Special Topics in Japanese Studies.
Credits: 3; may be repeated to a maximum of 6 credits.
Proseminar of variable content providing an opportunity for in-depth study of special topics in Japanese studies.

JPN 4935 Senior Honors Thesis.
Credits: 3.
Student selects a Japanese faculty member to act as director for an independent research project which culminates in the preparation of an honors thesis.

JPN 4940 Internship.
Credits: 3; Prereq: Consent of instructor. Permission of departmental representative required. Supervision by a faculty member or delegated authority and a post internship written report are required.

JPT 3100 Japanese Literary Heritage. F.
Credits: 3.
An investigation of literary texts from the eighth through the seventeenth-centuries presented within the framework of Western literary and feminist criticism. (H, I) GR-E†

JPT 3120 Modern Japanese Fiction in Translation. S.
Credits: 3.
A critical examination of texts from the eighteenth-century to the present analyzed with the aid of Westerm literary and feminist criticism. (H, I) GR-E†

JPT 3121 Contemporary Japanese Literature: Postwar to Postmodern.
Credits: 3.
This is a companion course to JPT 3120 reflecting the increasing clarity with which "contemporary" Japanese Literature (1945-present) is emerging as a separate field with its own specific set of issues, major texts, and significance for the American student of Japan.

JPT 3130 Japanese Women Writers: The Classical Period. F.
Credits: 3.
A critical investigation of the vernacular masterpieces written by women of the Heian (794-1185) and Kamakura periods (1185-1333) explored from a feminist literary perspective. (H,I)

JPT 3140 Japanese Women Writers: The Modern Period. S.
Credits: 3.
An exploration of selected texts by modern women writers supported by readings on feminist literary criticism. (H,I)

JPT 3150 WAKA: Traditional Japanese Poetry.
Credits: 3.
An historical survey of poetry beginning with the classical period and ending with contemporary examples analyzed with the incorporation of gender issues within poetics. (H,I)

JPT 3500 Japanese Culture. S.
Credits: 3.
An introduction to the question of culture with emphasis on tracing the origin and development of important aspects of Japanese literature, art, religion and society. All readings in English. (H, I) GR-E†

JPT 4502 Japanese Folklore.
Credits: 3.
Study of native belief systems and the psychology of the Japanese as reflected in the folk practice of ritual observance, and in tales, myths, songs and proverbs. (H, I)

JPW 4120 Bungo: Advanced Readings in Literary Japanese.
Credits: 3; Prereq: JPN 3401 or the equivalent.
An introduction to reading classical Japanese literature in the original aided by current Japanese scholarship and commentaries by noted specialists.

JPW 4130 Readings in Japanese Literature. F.
Credits: 3; Prereq: JPN 3401 or the equivalent.
A fourth-year language course based on literary texts, incorporating advanced reading skills and the analysis of literature in the original. (H, I)

JPW 4131 Japanese Texts and Contexts.
Credits: 3; Prereq: JPN3401 or consent of the instructor.
This course is designed as a complement to JPW 4130 (Reading Japanese Literature) with a focus on contemporary issues as explored in a variety of Japanese media.

SHO 1120 Beginning Shona 1. F.
Credits: 5.

SHO 1121 Beginning Shona 2. S.
Credits: 5; Prereq: SHO 1120 (grade of C or better, or S), or the equivalent.

SHO 4905 Individual Study.
Credits: 1 to 5; Prereq: consent of instructor.

SWA 1120 Beginning Swahili 1. F.
Credits: 5.

SWA 1121 Beginning Swahili 2. S.
Credits: 5; Prereq: SWA 1120 (grade of C or better, or S), or the equivalent.

SWA 2200 Second-Year Swahili 1. F.
Credits: 3; Prereq: SWA 1121 (grade of C or better, or S), or the equivalent.

SWA 2201 Second-Year Swahili 2. S.
Credits: 3; Prereq: SWA 2201 (grade of C or better, or S), or the equivalent.

SWA 4905 Individual Study.
Credits: 1 to 5; Prereq: consent of instructor.

YOR 1120 Beginning Yoruba 1. F.
Credits: 5.

YOR 1121 Beginning Yoruba 2. S.
Credits: 5; Prereq: YOR 1120 (grade of C or better, or S), or the equivalent.

YOR 2200 Second-Year Yoruba 1. F.
Credits: 3; Prereq: YOR 1121 (grade of C or better, or S), or the equivalent.

YOR 2201 Second-Year Yoruba 2. S.
Credits: 3; Prereq: YOR 2201 (grade of C or better, or S), or the equivalent.

YOR 3300 Third-Year Yoruba 1.
Credits: 3; Prereq: YOR2202 with grade of C or better.

YOR 3301 Third-Year Yoruba 2.
Credits: 3; Prereq: YOR3410 with grade of C or better.

YOR 3500 Yoruba Diaspora in the New World.
Credits: 3; Prereq: HUM 2420 or HUM 2424, or consent of instructor.
This course introduces the student to the scope and importance of Yoruba culture in the New World, its role and significance in the resilience of African cultures in North America, South America and the Caribbean. GR-E†

YOR 4502 Yoruba Oral Literature.
Credits: 3; Prereq: YOR 1121 or consent of instructor. Coreq: YOR 2201 or YOR 2202, or consent of instructor.

This course provides an overview of the various genres of Yoruba oral literature. It stresses the importance of the spoken word in Yoruba culture, the training of Yoruba verbal artists and their place in Yoruba society. (H)

YOR 4905 Individual Study.
Credits: 1 to 5; Prereq: consent of instructor.